Now North Wales Police will this year take things a step further by bringing in horses to provide mounted patrols in town trouble spots like Wrexham in the Eastern Division.

The hope is that the sheer size and razzmatazz of a pair of highly coloured horses with day-glo kitted riders will be enough to make yobbos think twice about starting trouble in town centres.

And as a former Royal Military Police officer, while on National Service, I'm confident Chief Constable Richard Brunstrom will be pleased with the results.

Then as now the same principles applied - high visibility,, bright red hats, white belts and gaiters and, in the mounted section, big horses; the bigger the better.

Because of their sheer visual impact I have seen many a street "battle" in garrison towns like Aldershot and Colchester fall apart before the Redcaps even drew their batons.

Last July North Wales Police borrowed a mounted squad from Greater Manchester Police - and a highly disciplined bunch they were too. Violent crimes halved and 75% fewer people were admitted to Wrexham Maelor Emergency Department.

Insp Chris Beasley, who headed the trial patrols, said: "I have seen just how effective mounted police can be with all types of anti-social behaviour. They can be reassuring to the public and can respond to all sorts of problems."

The trial was repeated in Wrexham over the New Year period, again with horses and officers loaned from Manchester. Such has been the impact that North Wales Police is to invest in its own mounted patrol unit.

It is still early days but interest has been phenomenal with 85 officers already saying they would like to be part of the project.

As costs are likely to be high, it is expected that no more than a handful of horses would be bought.

North Wales Police will also need to train horses and officers, take on support staff and find land in Wrexham or Flintshire to build stables and a training area.

At present, the only force in Wales to use mounted police officers is South Wales Police. A mounted section was introduced 12 years ago, and its nine police horses are a common sight on match days and at big crowd events in Cardiff, particularly when the Millennium Stadium is being used.

Chief Constable Brunstrom said mounted officers were highly visible and provided reassurance to members of the public.

"These horses are not for decoration," he said.. "We've trialled them in Wrexham and they made a significant difference."